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ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY: EXAM 2
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Functions of the Integumentary System Ans: -Resistance to trauma and
infection
-Prevents loss or gain of water
-Vitamin D synthesis
-Sensory receptors for heat, cold, touch, texture, pressure, vibration, and
tissue injury
-Thermoregulation
How does skin resist trauma and infection? Ans: -Skin has low pH to
reduce bacteria and fungi
-Cells are packed closely together with tough protein called keratin
Name 3 ways the integumentary system thermoregulates? Ans: -Glands
release sweat for evaporative cooling
- Vasoconstriction
- Vasodilation
Define: Vasoconstriction Ans: narrowing of blood vessels, reduces heat
loss
Define: Vasodilation Ans: widening of blood vessels, increases heat loss
What are the 2 main parts of the integumentary system? Ans:
Epidermis- outer layer
Dermis- underlying connective tissue
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Hypodermis not really part of the skin!
What does the epidermis primarily consist of? Ans: keratinized stratified
squamous epithelium
What are the epidermal derivatives? Ans: glands, hair, nails
What are the 4 main cell types in the epidermis? Ans: - Karatinocytes
- Melanocytes
- Tactile (Merkel) cells
- Dendritic (Langerhans) cells
Keratinocytes (functions) Ans: most numerous cell type, make fibrous
protein keratin
Melanocytes (functions) Ans: synthesize pigment called melanin
Tactile cells (functions and 2nd name) Ans: also called Merkel cells,
receptors for the sense of touch, associated with a dermal nerve fiber
Dendritic cells (functions and 2nd name) Ans: macrophages (big
phagocytic cells) that kill microbes
What are the layers of the epidermis (list from bottom up)? Ans: -
Stratum basale
- Stratum spinosum
- Stratum granulosum
- Stratum lucidum
- Stratum corneum
What layer of the epidermis is only found in thick skin? Ans: Straum
lucidum
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How many layers are found in the stratum basale? Ans: 1 layer
What cells are found in the stratum basale? Ans: stem cells,
keratinocytes, melanocytes, tactile (merkel) cells
What is the importance of the stem cells in the stratum basale? Ans:
makes it mitotically active, the stem cells divide and give rise to
keratinocytes
How many layers are in the stratum spinosum? Ans: 8-10 layers
What is the appearance of the cells in the stratum spinosum, and why?
Ans: The cells are flattened, which happens as they are pushed upward
What is contained in the stratum spinosum? Ans: Keratinocytes,
dendridic (langerhans) cells
In which epidermis layers do keratinocytes produce waterproofing
substances? Ans: Stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum
What are the waterproofing substances produced by the keratinocytes?
Ans: keratin, lipids
How many layers are in the stratum granulosum? Ans: 3-5 layers
In what layer do the nuclei and organelles begin to degenerate in the
keratinocytes? Ans: stratum granulosum
What do the cells look like in the stratum granulosum and why? Ans:
They continue to flatten because of accumulation of keratin
How many layers are in the stratum lucidum, and what do they look like?
Ans: 3-4 layers of translucent cells
Why are the cells in the stratum lucidum translucent? Ans: the clear
protein named eleidin
How many layers are in the stratum corneum? Ans: up to 30 layers
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY: EXAM 2
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Functions of the Integumentary System Ans: -Resistance to trauma and
infection
-Prevents loss or gain of water
-Vitamin D synthesis
-Sensory receptors for heat, cold, touch, texture, pressure, vibration, and
tissue injury
-Thermoregulation
How does skin resist trauma and infection? Ans: -Skin has low pH to
reduce bacteria and fungi
-Cells are packed closely together with tough protein called keratin
Name 3 ways the integumentary system thermoregulates? Ans: -Glands
release sweat for evaporative cooling
- Vasoconstriction
- Vasodilation
Define: Vasoconstriction Ans: narrowing of blood vessels, reduces heat
loss
Define: Vasodilation Ans: widening of blood vessels, increases heat loss
What are the 2 main parts of the integumentary system? Ans:
Epidermis- outer layer
Dermis- underlying connective tissue
, Page | 2
Hypodermis not really part of the skin!
What does the epidermis primarily consist of? Ans: keratinized stratified
squamous epithelium
What are the epidermal derivatives? Ans: glands, hair, nails
What are the 4 main cell types in the epidermis? Ans: - Karatinocytes
- Melanocytes
- Tactile (Merkel) cells
- Dendritic (Langerhans) cells
Keratinocytes (functions) Ans: most numerous cell type, make fibrous
protein keratin
Melanocytes (functions) Ans: synthesize pigment called melanin
Tactile cells (functions and 2nd name) Ans: also called Merkel cells,
receptors for the sense of touch, associated with a dermal nerve fiber
Dendritic cells (functions and 2nd name) Ans: macrophages (big
phagocytic cells) that kill microbes
What are the layers of the epidermis (list from bottom up)? Ans: -
Stratum basale
- Stratum spinosum
- Stratum granulosum
- Stratum lucidum
- Stratum corneum
What layer of the epidermis is only found in thick skin? Ans: Straum
lucidum
, Page | 3
How many layers are found in the stratum basale? Ans: 1 layer
What cells are found in the stratum basale? Ans: stem cells,
keratinocytes, melanocytes, tactile (merkel) cells
What is the importance of the stem cells in the stratum basale? Ans:
makes it mitotically active, the stem cells divide and give rise to
keratinocytes
How many layers are in the stratum spinosum? Ans: 8-10 layers
What is the appearance of the cells in the stratum spinosum, and why?
Ans: The cells are flattened, which happens as they are pushed upward
What is contained in the stratum spinosum? Ans: Keratinocytes,
dendridic (langerhans) cells
In which epidermis layers do keratinocytes produce waterproofing
substances? Ans: Stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum
What are the waterproofing substances produced by the keratinocytes?
Ans: keratin, lipids
How many layers are in the stratum granulosum? Ans: 3-5 layers
In what layer do the nuclei and organelles begin to degenerate in the
keratinocytes? Ans: stratum granulosum
What do the cells look like in the stratum granulosum and why? Ans:
They continue to flatten because of accumulation of keratin
How many layers are in the stratum lucidum, and what do they look like?
Ans: 3-4 layers of translucent cells
Why are the cells in the stratum lucidum translucent? Ans: the clear
protein named eleidin
How many layers are in the stratum corneum? Ans: up to 30 layers
